Virginia Places

"To be a Virginian either by Birth, Marriage, Adoption, or even on one's Mother's side
is an Introduction to any State in the Union, a Passport to any Foreign Country, and a Benediction from Above"

Clover Hollow in Giles County, Virginia

This website is an exploration of Virginia history and geography. History helps us understand things that have happened, and geography examines the places where things have happened... or will be happening. To learn from the past, we should do more than memorize dates and state capitals. To prepare for tomorrow, we need to do more than just hope for the best.

We should use our capacity for critical thinking, inquire into why things happen where they happen - and then use whatever insights we gained from that experience to shape the future and create the Virginia we would like to see.

reshaping the landscape in Gainesville
reshaping the landscape
in Gainesville
Lake Jackson Dam on Cedar Run
Lake Jackson Dam
on Cedar Run
where Wilmer McLean moved to avoid the Civil War: Appomattox
where Wilmer McLean moved
to avoid the Civil War: Appomattox
investment in heritage tourism when highways first paved
investment in heritage tourism
when highways first paved
(click on images for larger versions)

Fall Session, 2010 classes at George Mason University:
NCLC 318, Exploring VA's Watersheds, 4 credits
GGS 380, Geography of Virginia, 3 credits

About Virginia Places
(Copyright © 1998-2010 Charles A. Grymes)